2023 Des Moines mayoral election

The 2023 Des Moines mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023. Mayoral elections in Des Moines are officially nonpartisan and use the plurality vote system, with no possibility of a runoff. Incumbent mayor Frank Cownie decided to retire rather than run for re-election to a historic sixth term in office.^[1]

2023 Des Moines mayoral election

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →

Candidate Connie Boesen Josh Mandelbaum Popular vote 14,488 13,777 Percentage 48.22% 45.85%

Precinct results Boesen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Mandelbaum:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      40–50%      No votes

Mayor before election Frank Cownie Democratic Elected mayor Connie Boesen Democratic

At-large city councilor Connie Boesen narrowly defeated ward 3 city councilor Josh Mandelbaum, as well as several other candidates. Boesen had been endorsed by Cownie as well as the city's largest newspaper, The Des Moines Register, and every other member of the city council with the exception of Mandelbaum. Boesen was sworn in as the first female mayor of Des Moines on January 8, 2024.^[2]

Candidates

Declared

• Connie Boesen, at-large city councilor and mayor pro tempore^[3] (Party affiliation: Democratic)^[4]
• Denver Foote, cosmetologist^[5] (Party affiliation: Democratic)^[6]
• Josh Mandelbaum, city councilor for ward 3^[7] (Party affiliation: Democratic)^[8]
• Christopter Von Arx (Party affiliation: Republican)^[9]

Declined

• Frank Cownie, incumbent mayor (Party affiliation: Democratic)^[1] (endorsed Boesen)^[10]

Endorsements

Connie Boesen (D)

Local officials

• Frank Cownie, incumbent mayor of Des Moines^[10]
• Joe Gatto, city councilor for ward 4^[10]
• Carl Voss, at-large city councilor^[10]
• Linda Westergaard, city councilor for ward 2^[10]

Newspapers

• The Des Moines Register^[11]

Results

2023 Des Moines mayoral general election^[12]

Candidate		Votes	%
Connie Boesen		14,488	48.22
Josh Mandelbaum		13,777	45.85
Denver Foote		971	3.23
Christopher Von Arx		704	2.34
Write-ins		107	0.36
Total votes		30,047	100

References

1. Clayworth, Jason (September 21, 2023). "After 20 years, Des Moines' mayor won't seek re-election". Axios. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
2. Lathers, Addison; Barreda, Virginia (January 8, 2024). "Des Moines swears in first woman mayor: 'Everything can be possible'". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
3. Barreda, Virginia (March 20, 2023). "At-large City Council member Connie Boesen announces bid for Des Moines mayor". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
4. "Connie Boesen for Des Moines City Council — ActBlue".
5. Barreda, Virginia (7 February 2023). "Des Moines activist, cosmetologist Denver Foote announces run for mayor". The Des Moines Register.
6. "Denver Foote for Des Moines Mayor — ActBlue".
7. Thompson, Chad (February 1, 2023). "Des Moines City Council member Josh Mandelbaum is running for mayor". KCCI.
8. "Josh Mandelbaum for Des Moines City Council — ActBlue".
9. Searles, Dana (September 21, 2023). "Who is on the ballot for Des Moines' Nov. 7 election?". We Are Iowa. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
10. Barreda, Virginia (November 3, 2023). "Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie announces endorsement for a mayoral candidate". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
11. "Editorial: Connie Boesen has the best approach to lead Des Moines forward". The Des Moines Register. October 20, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
12. "Iowa election 2023: Full results from Nov. 7 elections in central Iowa". KCCI. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-10.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Denver Foote (D) for Mayor
• Josh Mandelbaum (D) for Mayor
• Connie Boesen (D) for Mayor